Sabotaging Myself at the End of the Day

ninjakowski

Self control is not a strong point of mine. Up until a couple of years ago, I could eat what I wanted with no effect, so its not something I ever really needed to develop when it came to food.
I don't have much to lose, I just want to get a bit leaner and more toned.
I've been on MFP for a month now and its working really well for me - BUT I have one problem.
I can do so well during the day, healthy breakfast and lunch, minimal snacking (always my downfall in the past), no cravings, no problems. Get home, eat dinner and then the cravings start. They are completely in my head, my stomach can feel physically bursting, but my head is saying 'eat, eat, eat'. It happens if I ate a healthy meal, it happens if I ate a 'cheaty' meal and its driving me mad because I cant seem to control it. Some days I can get away with eating some fruit and it will go away, but yesterday I just lost it and ended up eating 2 pancakes with jam and icecream, 3 rows of chocolate, a piece of cheese and a popsicle. TOTALLY blew out my calories and I had been doing so well until about an hour before bedtime, I wasn't even hungry but I just couldn't stop myself.

I dont think its because I'm depriving myself during the day - I actually stood in front of the vending machine at work yesterday and looked at the kit kats (which I used to go crazy for) and didn't want one at all. I was on 1400 cals a day and it was a bit tight some days, so after dropping a couple of pounds I changed it to 1600 (1/2 pound per week) to give myself a bit more room, but it hasn't helped.

What to do? I'm sure I just need to man up a bit and develop some self control but any advice would be appreciated...its so depressing to see a days hard work go down the drain in a matter of minutes

avocado12

Brush your teeth after your last meal. Nobody wants to eat after that!

Putthekettleon

I wish I knew, as I do exactly the same thing as you have described - following the plan well all day, then have my evening meal and bingo - I just can't stop eating even though I'm not hungry :0( Feel free to add me if you would like some support - it's nice to know I'm not alone in sabotaging my efforts at the end of the day! x

katcunock

Self control is not a strong point of mine. Up until a couple of years ago, I could eat what I wanted with no effect, so its not something I ever really needed to develop when it came to food.
I don't have much to lose, I just want to get a bit leaner and more toned.
I've been on MFP for a month now and its working really well for me - BUT I have one problem.
I can do so well during the day, healthy breakfast and lunch, minimal snacking (always my downfall in the past), no cravings, no problems. Get home, eat dinner and then the cravings start. They are completely in my head, my stomach can feel physically bursting, but my head is saying 'eat, eat, eat'. It happens if I ate a healthy meal, it happens if I ate a 'cheaty' meal and its driving me mad because I cant seem to control it. Some days I can get away with eating some fruit and it will go away, but yesterday I just lost it and ended up eating 2 pancakes with jam and icecream, 3 rows of chocolate, a piece of cheese and a popsicle. TOTALLY blew out my calories and I had been doing so well until about an hour before bedtime, I wasn't even hungry but I just couldn't stop myself.

I dont think its because I'm depriving myself during the day - I actually stood in front of the vending machine at work yesterday and looked at the kit kats (which I used to go crazy for) and didn't want one at all. I was on 1400 cals a day and it was a bit tight some days, so after dropping a couple of pounds I changed it to 1600 (1/2 pound per week) to give myself a bit more room, but it hasn't helped.

What to do? I'm sure I just need to man up a bit and develop some self control but any advice would be appreciated...its so depressing to see a days hard work go down the drain in a matter of minutes

Have3 to tell you, yesterday evening i was BIG TIME craving a dominoes pizza. I was on the website to order and everything. So I texted my friend Claire to tell her, and then went out for an hours bike ride. By the time I got back, craving was gone and even if I'd then had a little (which I didn't) I had extra calories from the exercise GOOD LUCK!

melindenmark

I have suffered from this problem in the past, but for me it would be sweets. After dinner no matter how full i was i needed to eat something sweet! I started drinking tea after dinner and it slowly stopped my cravings. Not saying it will work for you just sharing what has worked for me.
Good luck i hope you find something that will help!

Tui_Fan

Self control is not a strong point of mine. Up until a couple of years ago, I could eat what I wanted with no effect, so its not something I ever really needed to develop when it came to food.
I don't have much to lose, I just want to get a bit leaner and more toned.
I've been on MFP for a month now and its working really well for me - BUT I have one problem.
I can do so well during the day, healthy breakfast and lunch, minimal snacking (always my downfall in the past), no cravings, no problems. Get home, eat dinner and then the cravings start. They are completely in my head, my stomach can feel physically bursting, but my head is saying 'eat, eat, eat'. It happens if I ate a healthy meal, it happens if I ate a 'cheaty' meal and its driving me mad because I cant seem to control it. Some days I can get away with eating some fruit and it will go away, but yesterday I just lost it and ended up eating 2 pancakes with jam and icecream, 3 rows of chocolate, a piece of cheese and a popsicle. TOTALLY blew out my calories and I had been doing so well until about an hour before bedtime, I wasn't even hungry but I just couldn't stop myself.

I dont think its because I'm depriving myself during the day - I actually stood in front of the vending machine at work yesterday and looked at the kit kats (which I used to go crazy for) and didn't want one at all. I was on 1400 cals a day and it was a bit tight some days, so after dropping a couple of pounds I changed it to 1600 (1/2 pound per week) to give myself a bit more room, but it hasn't helped.

What to do? I'm sure I just need to man up a bit and develop some self control but any advice would be appreciated...its so depressing to see a days hard work go down the drain in a matter of minutes

OMG this is the story of my life! I can be disgustingly healthy during the day, come home time I'm back & forth to the damn pantry...

soph501

I do exactly the same thing! I'm really good through out the day, then after dinner I just pick at everything sweet even though i'm not physically hungry. I think it's a comfort thng for some reason. I'm curious to see the responses to this along with any tips

katiefly86

Brush your teeth after your last meal. Nobody wants to eat after that!

I have done ^this^ a time or two. But first I always try to get out of boredom, because that's normally what it is for me. So I'll take a walk, or come on here and see what's new. My other thing is comfort. I turn to food for comfort. If that's what I need a hot bath normally helps. If one of those don't work, strangely, I'll do as listed above. Brush my teeth. Because I too HATE eating after I brush my teeth. These help me. Maybe they will or will not help you too!! Good luck!!

mad45678

Well, I can certainly RELATE!! And, I have the same judgment of myself you do AFTER hitting the snacks. Here's what I know:
I cannot watch lots of tv in the evening because i will definitely eat after a show or two. Also, the after dinner sabotage takes on a life of its own. So, here's how I break it: I commit that NO MATTER WHAT my full time job when I'm home at night is to not eat after dinner (except my apple if I want one). So, sometimes I can't go anywhere near the kitchen, I can't talk on the phone, etc....the only thing I can do is NOT EAT. Then I go to bed with the radio on. In the morning, I'm euphoric I broke the cycle. I do this one day at a time. It finally gets easier after a week or so of craving.

roseymacdoo

I can totally relate to this. Snacking at night after the kids were in bed was the hardest habit to break for me. It was like a compulsion to eat, and thoughts about food just used to get so loud in my head that I couldn't even concentrate on doing anything else.

It usually happens if I'm sitting watching tv, so to deal with it I just have to get up and take myself into a totally different space and do something different, like get on the MacBook and edit some photos, or go upstairs and read a book, or pick up my iTouch and play some bejewelled blitz - anything to get my brain to change gear and concentrate on something else.

Another thing I'll sometimes do is tell myself I'm not hungry, I'm just thirsty, and drink a big glass of water instead.

If it's literally in the last half hour before bedtime, I'll sometimes just go to bed, telling myself that if I'm asleep then I won't want to snack!

Once the habit is broken it does get easier, you stop thinking about it. But do beware it's really easy to slip back into it - I've been on MFP for 2 yrs now and was good for the first 18months. Then I gave myself a break for a few months and even though I pretty much maintained over my break, I did slip into some of these bad habit again, and now I'm back on it and pushing to lose my last 20lbs I'm haing these battles with myself all over again!

Good luck, do share any things you find that work for you!

Rosey x

NatsukoG

Evening time seems to be my downfall too and I think it's possibly because I've learned to associate relaxing with eating 'goodies'. Distraction techniques seem to work best for me - keeping busy preparing lunch to bring to work next day, doing a few bits around the house, painting my toe nails etc.

I often resort to a can of diet coke as usually my cravings are for sweet things. I know a lot of people think diet drinks are VERY bad but got to be better than chocolate and ice-cream.

Good luck!

suadvani

Omg.. This is my problem too. It's almost 1am I'm still watching tv.. (I get some alone time catching up with recorded shows in the evening..) and I've just eaten a bag of chips and a chocolate bar..
The only way I dot eat at nite is if I sleep early.. Which never happens...
I have great will power during the day.. Atleast most of the time ... It's just nights I really mess up!

A friend suggested half a glass of milk..
MY try that.. But will definitely try brushing my teeth as I hate eating with a minty mouth..

Thanks for the great tips, and so glad I'm not the only one..

sallysuze

If you don't have it in the house you can't eat it...
Or at least it makes it harder to eat so you have to make more of an effort than just go to the fridge or pantry

elrolloSurf

I totally get this and I've gotten over by acknowledging one fact: I wasn't eating enough good meals and snacks throughout the day or drinking enough water. Typically I was eating a smallish breakfast and lunch, having a bigger dinner and then ate 6 biscuits or half a block of chocolate!

As soon as I upped my healthy snacks and drank at least 8 glasses of water, the cravings diminished to the point where i can occasionally have a small piece choc or a single biscuit and not feel like devouring a whole packet of bikkies or block of choc!

Drinking more low cal beverages like tea, green tea decaf coffee also helps

Good luck from a reformed fellow sweet tooth :happy:

natbeach

I know how you feel - ifi have healthy desserts around, ill just eat a lot of them too. If I dont have them in the house... sometimes thats worse! if I go out im already committed to worst case scenario.
Trying low fat/cal ice cream things at the moment and I try to mentally prepare for ONE after dinner and factor that in the rest of the day

SilverOnTheTree

I get into trouble like this when I've stayed up very late playing computer or studying, which has me sitting down for a long time within easy reach of the kitchen. Worked out that my problem is a more-than-four-hour gap between dinner and bedtime, and that once i've started overeating "just one more" turns into 20x more. Helpful fixes:
1) Storing my junk food at my friend's flat next door (I have a key and can reasonably help myself during the day, but not during the evening). This is what it took to break the cycle.
2) Brushing my teeth and using mouthwash immediately after dinner. (The knowledge that I'd have to floss AGAIN often halts the impulse to snack.)
3) Using chewing gum as my evening sweetie. I'd rather chew $1 worth of gum every day than eat $5 worth of candy, so I bought heaps of different flavours!
4) Not buying the wretched diet-breaking stuff. This means that some weeks, I don't purchase 1kg of cheese even if it IS on special... it's boring, but it's not forever.

Other things which help a bit:
Higher % of protein in my diet
No sugary snacks after lunch (including fruit)
Lots of water, green tea, black chai
Logging in to MFP and reading "If every day were like today..."

Hope this is useful!

HappyHag

Ok, this is going to sound INCREDIBLY silly, but this is what works for me ... (I've always been so good and in control during the day but nighttime rolls around and I'm insane)

A few weeks ago, I decided that I have a fat, gluttonous vampiress that lives inside me! (please don't take me too seriously here, I don't REALLY believe that). She comes out at night, and rather than feasting on blood, she sucks down as much sugary, starchy crap as possible. She sleeps during the day, as vampires do, but once that sun sets she's starving and on the prowl!

Now, at night when I feel her waking up, I talk to her. Not normally out loud where someone could hear me and call the men in the little white coats, but sometimes! I tell her that I'm armed with garlic, holy water, wooden stakes and anything else I can think of and will smite her greedy, cellulite covered *kitten* into oblivion.

Now, it doesn't ALWAYS work, but usually it takes my mind of the craving, leaves me feeling a bit empowered (picturing Kate Beckinsale her costume in Van Helsing always motivates me to be strong), and usually gets me to chuckle a bit and take a deep breath. I can, 9 times out of 10, get that vampire stuffed back into her coffin for another day.

told ya it was silly!

ElizaDnl

I read an article a while ago that claimed that to control cravings later in the day it is vital to have a breakfast that's high in protein. I've tried that, and it absolutely works for me. I find it difficult to eat that much for breakfast, but I can alway tell the days when I didn't get enough protein early in the day. I'm aiming for 25-30 g for breakfast and again for lunch, and if I manage to hit that, my cravings are gone. For me also, eating only three bigger meals works better than 5-6 small ones (but I know it's the opposite for most people).

Restybaby2012

I just dont go near the kitchen / pantry after the supper/dinner/evening meal clean up

---

literally. I make sure I have no snacks that I shouldnt have AT THAT TIME OF DAY anywhere else in the house so I cant munch while at my desk or watching TV. I keep a minimum of 2 bottles of water on my desk at all times...........in fact...there's usually a bottle of water anywhere I might happen to sit. My fiance' is a love that way.....he anticipates what I might need depending on where I am.

My worst eating time for "junk"....or less than healthy shall we say, is at work, usually in the morning. I tend to take a LOT of pickles/ cucumbers to work so I can munch them as I settle in for the day. I have to be sure not to have ANYTHING in my lunch that isnt virtually 100% healthy because I wont leave it alone--in the early morning. From that point there is no real snacking, no junk, no cravings. Usually Im so damn busy I cant see straight

But I digress.........sorry for the momentary de-rail

Have a super day

MizzDoc

bump

Jenky85

God this is me!! It's even worse this week as hubby is away on business so I'm all alone. I was in bed last night watching TV and I couldnt stop thinking about snacking even though i'd had a good sized dinner. I ended up going downstairs and raiding my cupboards for anything I could eat....I was so upset that I couldnt even convonce myself to stay in bed

MummaSue

I have the same problem but, thankfully, not every night. But when I do, I crave savouries rather than sweet - cheese, crisps that kind of thing. I just don't keep crisps in the house now so that solves that one, but I'm not the only one in the household so I can't "do away" with cheese! I'm trying some "low-low" mature cheese spread which is 40% less fat - if the urge comes upon me but what I try to do is have a little cheese with a mini oatcake - I find the mealiness satisfying. I will put it on a plate maybe with a tomato, and go and sit down and eat it in an aware way, then hope I'll be too lazy to go get more! I also find a glass of sparkling water with a slice of lemon helps too.
As far as chocolate goes I keep a bar of dark 70%, ideally the orange & spice one, broken up into squares, in a container in the freezer. It's a bit more hidden than in the fridge (so it's not constantly calling to me!) and when I have a square it takes a little longer to eat - it has to melt in your mouth first, but it doesn't seem to spoil it.- I suppose the only danger is that it will make it into the freezer in the first place!

Good luck everyone!

clobercow

Self control is not a strong point of mine. Up until a couple of years ago, I could eat what I wanted with no effect, so its not something I ever really needed to develop when it came to food.
I don't have much to lose, I just want to get a bit leaner and more toned.
I've been on MFP for a month now and its working really well for me - BUT I have one problem.
I can do so well during the day, healthy breakfast and lunch, minimal snacking (always my downfall in the past), no cravings, no problems. Get home, eat dinner and then the cravings start. They are completely in my head, my stomach can feel physically bursting, but my head is saying 'eat, eat, eat'. It happens if I ate a healthy meal, it happens if I ate a 'cheaty' meal and its driving me mad because I cant seem to control it. Some days I can get away with eating some fruit and it will go away, but yesterday I just lost it and ended up eating 2 pancakes with jam and icecream, 3 rows of chocolate, a piece of cheese and a popsicle. TOTALLY blew out my calories and I had been doing so well until about an hour before bedtime, I wasn't even hungry but I just couldn't stop myself.

I dont think its because I'm depriving myself during the day - I actually stood in front of the vending machine at work yesterday and looked at the kit kats (which I used to go crazy for) and didn't want one at all. I was on 1400 cals a day and it was a bit tight some days, so after dropping a couple of pounds I changed it to 1600 (1/2 pound per week) to give myself a bit more room, but it hasn't helped.

What to do? I'm sure I just need to man up a bit and develop some self control but any advice would be appreciated...its so depressing to see a days hard work go down the drain in a matter of minutes

I suggest you insure you are getting enough protein and fat to balance out those hormones.

Many people, including myself, have dealt with this exact same thing and switched to low carb. Those undeniable cravings are hormonaly driven. Protein and Fat really helps to get those under control. Carbohydrates tend to do the opposite.

Look into going low carb, moderate protein and moderate fat.

Also, people who use Intermittent fasting have better control over their appetite in the long run.


I utilize both IF and low carb and I can tell you that I'm totally satisfied every day with my meals and how I feel about food. I was the opposite eating to much carbohydrate and lacking protein.

slamina

I do exactly the same as the OP. Some good tips here to try. My evening cravings are so bad that I really feel like I'm depriving myself no matter what I've eaten in the daytime...grrrr

HappyHag

Also, people who use Intermittent fasting have better control over their appetite in the long run.

I have to agree with this 100%. Since I started (just about 10 days ago) it amazes me how the cravings have diminished and how much more I am aware of when I'm actually full.

ChristyJade

If you don't have it in the house you can't eat it...
Or at least it makes it harder to eat so you have to make more of an effort than just go to the fridge or pantry

I agree with this! I just dont buy anything like that anymore, which sucks for my boyfriend, but he understands! I get in fruit and cottage cheese for snacks and if I have a need for something, I have a cup of tea or glass of milk. Sometimes just having a glass of water stops me from wanting to eat, or just doing something a bit more stimulating at night, rather than watching telly.

Cheese though, that's my downfall too, you always have it in, and its evil to snack on! I could eat a whole block!

Iceman1800

Just save some calories for the end of the day. Cut 50 or so from a few meals then you have 150 to blow on a late night snack

NearlyThere2011

Self control is not a strong point of mine. Up until a couple of years ago, I could eat what I wanted with no effect, so its not something I ever really needed to develop when it came to food.
I don't have much to lose, I just want to get a bit leaner and more toned.
I've been on MFP for a month now and its working really well for me - BUT I have one problem.
I can do so well during the day, healthy breakfast and lunch, minimal snacking (always my downfall in the past), no cravings, no problems. Get home, eat dinner and then the cravings start. They are completely in my head, my stomach can feel physically bursting, but my head is saying 'eat, eat, eat'. It happens if I ate a healthy meal, it happens if I ate a 'cheaty' meal and its driving me mad because I cant seem to control it. Some days I can get away with eating some fruit and it will go away, but yesterday I just lost it and ended up eating 2 pancakes with jam and icecream, 3 rows of chocolate, a piece of cheese and a popsicle. TOTALLY blew out my calories and I had been doing so well until about an hour before bedtime, I wasn't even hungry but I just couldn't stop myself.

I dont think its because I'm depriving myself during the day - I actually stood in front of the vending machine at work yesterday and looked at the kit kats (which I used to go crazy for) and didn't want one at all. I was on 1400 cals a day and it was a bit tight some days, so after dropping a couple of pounds I changed it to 1600 (1/2 pound per week) to give myself a bit more room, but it hasn't helped.

What to do? I'm sure I just need to man up a bit and develop some self control but any advice would be appreciated...its so depressing to see a days hard work go down the drain in a matter of minutes

Same!! and bumping for later ;-)

lkcuts

a couple of suggestons. #1, don't buy the stuff to have it in the house. Most times, its late and you would not feel like going out to get it.
#2 If you know the things you crave,have them spread out earlier in the day, in moderation to get the taste you crave, and log it. during the day you are more active and. the calories will more than likely get burned off some. I don't know about you, but old habits get better in time at least they have for me, so when I want it,instead of depriving my self, I eat /drink it and log. tomorrow is another day and eventually these cravings will be in control.
Good luck!

jennaworksout

I get the same way all the time, its so hard to fight that craving, one thing I do is not buy anything to snack on that I crave, like chocolate, sweets, etc, if they are not there I can't eat them , I don't even have sugar in the house so I can't even bake something..:) also brushing your teeth does work I find, once I brush my teeth, I don't want to eat.

andreahanlon

Go to bed early if you can and sometimes drinking no/less caffeine can really help lessen cravings.